Stabil Manual 49-52 from 1931 in English and French
The manual was issued, when Franz Walther wanted to sell his outfits on the
English market in 1931. After the death of Franz Walther, the Walther family
was no longer interested in marketing outside Germany. So this English
and the French manual were the last manuals issued in another
language than in German.
I have to thank Ansgar Henze for giving me the English manual, which is in a
very good condition. A also have to thank Robert Podzuweit for the scans
of his French manual.
The copy of the English manual is showing differences between Meccano and
Stabil concerning the representation of models.
In the German manuals, Walther was using clear technical expressions for the
naming of subassemblies. He also listed, which parts the subassembly is
made of. This is a great help for the construction of the models, as in most
cases no further explanation is needed.
Besides, Walther was presenting technical drawings to show complex
assemblies.
Franz Walther said: This outstanding type of description is a significant
advantage compared to manuals of competitors.
Walther tried to use this concept also in the manuals printed in languages
other than German.
The English manual from 1931 is a translation of the 1930 German manual.
The differences to the German manual are.
In the reverse of the cover an ad for a clockwork motor and for an electric
motor with transformer are shown in the German manual.
In the English manual only the clockwork motor is shown. The ad for the
electric motor was transferred to the reverse of the back cover.
In the German manual an ad for the
Erfinderbaukästen (Inventor Outfits)
was shown on the reverse of the back cover.
This ad is omitted in the English manual.
In the German manual on page 11 winners of the last model competition are
listed. In the English manual the prizes and the conditions for a
participation are printed instead.
In the English manual on page 13 the sum of models, the sum of parts and
the types of manuals for each Stabil outfit are omitted.
In the German manual, below the title of some models, the name of boys are
written, who got a prize for constructing a similar model in a model
competition. In the English manual the names are omitted.
The text about technical drawing on pages 126-127 is slightly abridged.
Some more info about the contemporary line of
German manuals is available.
The text is in German.
There was no English or French manual for the larger Stabil outfits 53-55.
A German manual 53-55 was added to
these outfits.
The manuals are subject to copyright of the heirs of the former company
Walther & Co.
The entire contents of the manuals are protected, and cannot be copied,
disseminated or modified for any commercial purposes. You are only allowed to
download, print out the text, photos and graphic elements for personal, private and non-commercial purposes.
The pages were scanned with a resolution of 150dpi.
Complete Stabil Manual 49-52 from 1931 in English
Some Pages from Stabil Manual 49-52 from 1932 in French
The French manual is very similar to the English manual.
The following pictures show the 4 cover pages and the pages 3-14 and 126-128.
The pages 1-2 are lost. The model pages 15-125 show the same models as the
English manual, but with a French description.
Page 10 is showing the new parts 84a-c, 88, 89. On page 11 only the conditions
for participation in the Stabil model contest are printed - no prizes.
The copies are rather coarse and have a resolution of only 96dpi.